NON-ISLAY PEATED SINGLE MALTS

While the island of Islay is almost synonymous with peated whiskies, the rest of the regions of Scotland, plus distilleries worldwide, are producing comparable high quality single malts. 

* FLIGHT ONE *

Expression 1
 Connemara

Background: Until recently, Connemara was basically the only peated Irish whiskey.  Produced at Kilbeggan, other expressions include Cask Strength and 12 Year.

Stats:  No Age Statement (NAS). Alcohol By Volume (ABV) = 40%.

Tasting Notes: If you've never had a peated single malt in your life, this might be the ideal place to start as it is triple distilled and registers at the lowest possible ABV for whiskey.  It also might be ideal at the end of a tasting session when your taste buds are spent.  Otherwise, skip it.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Pour?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
NO	NO	NO

Expression 2
 Westland Peated

Background: Based in Seattle, Washington, Westland produces some of the tastiest single malt whiskey in the US.  They are well known for their transparency in all steps of production as well as their focus on local terroir.  Those aspects remind me a lot of another distillery also owned by Remy Cointreau: Bruichladdich of Scotland.

Stats: NAS. ABV = 46%.  

Tasting Notes: Subtle peat on the nose.  Well balanced on the taste. The mash bill is actually composed of peated and unpeated malt, with a majority of the latter, so definitely not as peaty as a comparably aged (young) Islay whisky.  Very accessible for newcomers.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 3
 Glendronach Peated

Background: Best known for their classic Highland Sherry aged whiskies, Glendronach took a stab at a peated expression which is more commonly produced at their sister distillery, Benriach. This style was only produced from 2015-2018 and was initially aged in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez.

Stats: NAS. ABV = 46%. Bottled 2017.

Tasting Notes: The peat presents itself immediately on the nose.  Salty brine elements on the taste with a hint of spice.  Interesting, but I'd stick with their traditional releases.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

Expression 4
 Balvenie 14 Year Week of Peat 

Background: For one week a year, Speyside's Balvenie distills peated spirit and then bottles it fourteen years later as part of their Week of Peat.  (Or was it 'Peat Week'?)  First bottled in 2017, the series was noticeably absent in 2020.  Hopefully just another delay due to covid.

Stats: ABV = 46.3%.  Bottled 2019.  

Tasting Notes: Surprisingly funky on the nose - in the best way possible.  The peat is strong with this one, complemented with a taste of honey.  Nice oily mouthfeel.  Far superior to prior releases in this series.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

* FLIGHT TWO *

Expression 1
  Chichibu Peated 10th Anniversary

Bottle #10135/11550

Background: Ichiro Akuto, creator/distiller/blender of Chichibu, has a pretty good resume when it comes to Japanese whisky. He worked for Yamazaki, he spent some time at Karuizawa, but, most importantly, he was born into the industry as it was his grandfather who founded the fabled Hanyu Distillery.  Most of his single malt releases are single cask along with the occasional small batch release like this one.

Stats: Five Years Old. ABV = 55.5%.  Bottled 2018.

Tasting Notes: The nose is crisp with lingering malty thickness. Very Japanese, sublte. Evenly balanced peat and spice.  Soft green apple finish.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

Expression 2
   SMWS 138.2 (Nantou Distillery)

Background: This Taiwanese distillery began production in 1978, however, they did not start distilling whiskey until 2008, perhaps inspired by nearby Kavalan which began operating three years prior.  Nantou's primary single malt brand, Omar, was launched in 2015, consisting of  two core expressions: lightly peated ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry - both aged for around 5 years.

Stats: "Embraced by Peat" Four Years Old. ABV = 57.6%. 

Tasting Notes: More brine than peat on the nose.  Taste reminds me of an average young Islay peat bomb.  Not very complex, but gets the job done.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

Expression 3
Arran Machrie Moor Cask Strength

Background: Arran, named after the Scottish isle upon which it resides, began distilling in 1995. While the peated Machrie Moor series has been discontinued, it's not too difficult to still find bottles on the shelves.  Any future peated releases will be coming from their sister distillery, Lagg, which will likely have its initial releases in 2022.

Stats: NAS. ABV = 58.2%.  Batch #2. Bottled 2015.

Tasting Notes:  Big peat nose with the higher alcohol content.  The peat is surprisingly light on the taste and well balanced with the malty notes that remind me of the sugary milk remaining after you've finished your cereal.  With water, some lovely marshmallow arrives on the scene.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	NO

Expression 4
 Kilkerran Heavily Peated

Background: This is the first peated malt released by Kilkerran, which has been distilling at Glengyle since 2004, just around the corner from the legendary Springbank.  The Mitchells owns both distilleries, but Campbeltown rival, Glen Scotia retains the marketing rights to the Glengyle name, thus the need for the Kilkerran brand.  Glengyle was originally operated from 1872-1925 by a Mitchell brother who was unhappy at Springbank.

Stats: NAS. ABV = 59.3%.  Batch #1.

Tasting Notes: Butterscotch nose.  Big peat all around.  Oily mouthfeel.  A little grapefruit, finishing with a little chocolate.  Bold and beautiful.

Worth Drinking Again?	Worth Buying a Dram?	Worth Buying a Bottle?
YES	YES	YES

[Tasting conducted with the Sneaky Trips Tasting Group which consists of Whisk(e)y Enthusiasts ranging from Beginner to Advanced.  Tastings are held monthly and are usually 8 Expressions based on a particular theme.]